Meet Our Staff

  Kari has been wrestling with dogs and cats as a technician since 1990 and has been with Westside Veterinary clinic since August of 2007. She has a passion for adopting animals from rescues or shelters and giving them a great home. She’s currently putting a lot of her free time into making a completely edible landscape in her backyard that consists of currants, greens, peas, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, cilantro, potatoes, etc. Kari loves to go hiking with her dog, Zip, and loves her hobby as a contra dancer and caller. When she needs to take a break and recharge Kari loves to visit Point Reyes National Seashore as well as Pagosa Springs. We would be lost without Kari’s loving smile here at Westside.

 Riley was born and raised in Arizona. She joined the Westside team when she moved to Flagstaff in July of 2019. Riley is the youngest of 3 children in her family and loves spending time with them whenever she can. When she isn’t working Riley loves to travel, spend time with friends & family, go shopping, clean and bake. She has two cats by the name of Cookie & Tilly whom she loves very much! Riley is planning to get a degree in Elementary Education.

   Chelsea is our in-house "cat whisperer". She is an Arizona girl who has assisted in rescuing, fostering, and rehoming numerous cats and kittens. She has 7 cats and 1 dog of her own, all of which have special needs (two of them are missing a limb!). Chelsea's passion for the care of animals surpasses that of most. She has been working in veterinary medicine since 2016 and has an Associate Degree in Veterinary Science. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician and a member of AAFP. Chelsea joined the Westside Team in August of 2020 and we couldn't appreciate her more  

Angie moved here from California and joined our team here at Westside in April of 2018. In California she worked as a casting director helping to fill rolls in movies and TV shows. She was even one of the casting directors for Lady Bird, a Golden Globe winner. She also has a daughter that hopes to one day be a forensic scientist. Angie’s love for animals and motivation to learn their behaviors has helped her fit right in at Westside. She even has 2 black labs and a tabby cat of her own at home. In her free time she loves to listen to music and also has a passion for flowers. 

Christine is a Certified Veterinary Technician who became a part of our team in March of 2020. She started her career in the veterinary field as a kennel kid when she was in highschool, and got her certification in January of 2019. She has lived in a number of different states and countries including Canada and Scotland! She is the self-proclaimed "chihuahua whisperer" and in her spare time she likes knitting, ceramics, snowboarding, and hiking (especially in the Grand Canyon). Christine loves providing quality care to pets, and enjoys working with our supportive and fun team at Westside!    

 Mika was born and raised in Japan and moved to Arizona where she graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Japanese and Asian Studies. Although Mika has had the privilege of working alongside many talented educators and guiding hundreds of children toward success in the classroom, she has always dreamed of working with animals and decided to change career paths. Mika has worked as a vet assistant in emergency veterinary medicine in the past, and joined Westside Veterinary Clinic in July 2020. In her free time, she enjoys painting and sketching, watching movies, fishing, and traveling. She loves spending her time outdoors with her 3 dogs Leeloo, Ellie, and Brotty, and caring for her 40 chickens (and yes, they all have names!) 

    Melissa has been with Westside since January of 2021. She started out as a Veterinary Assistant, and quickly moved on to be a Technician with her keen skills and amazing ability. Originally from Kansas, Melissa has also lived in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and now Arizona! She has a small zoo at home consisting of 5 cats, 2 rats, 1 guinea pig, 1 leopard gecko, and 1 dog! Aside from her furry friends, she also has a husband and two wonderful daughters and enjoys outdoor adventures such as hiking, bouldering, and kayaking. Melissa is currently a student and committed to a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. She has been such a blessing to our family at Westside!   

    A became a part of our family in April of 2021. They have previously interned with The Gentle Barn and rescues special needs animals. A currently has a deaf cattle dog, a neurodivergent poodle and two pit bulls with physical disabilities. They enjoy spending their free time by hiking and exploring new places with their dog, Tyson. They are multi-talented and are a licensed massage therapist, Reiki master teacher, animal communicator and death doula in training! Their favorite animal is a cow because cows are just giant puppies!

    Kristen was born and raised in Southern California, but has lived in Texas and New York City. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Wildlife Management Certificate at NAU in 2018. She has interned at multiple zoos, working with a variety of animals including otters, zebra, and giraffe! Kristen joined our family in October 2021 after moving back to Flagstaff. She has two cats, one of which likes to sit on her shoulders when they spend time together. When she isn't at the clinic, she enjoys hiking, playing video games, reading, and training her cats. 

   Alicia was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Flagstaff in 2016 and joined our team in June of 2021. She can’t choose a favorite animal and loves them ALL because they each have such unique personalities. She has a small zoo of her own including a pacman frog, 2 cats, goldfish, betta fish, and a three-legged Russian hamster named Lt. Dan. In her spare time, Alicia loves to read, paint, and travel. 

  Denali has been in Flagstaff for most of her life and joined the Westside team in October 2021. She has two dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier and a mixed breed. Her Jack Russell Terrier is still VERY hyper even though he is an old man and she loves how sweet and loving her other dog is. Her favorite animal is a bear because they are so cute! She attends CCC for nursing and in her free time, she loves to knit and crochet. She also loves being outdoors where she can hammock, or race her brother on dirt bikes.

 Alexia moved to Flagstaff and joined our team in October 2021 after living in North Dakota. She has a cat named Lady who acts like a dog and plays fetch! Her favorite animal is a cat because when cats show affection, they really love you. Alexia is very active and enjoys going to the gym, hiking, and swimming. She even works as a personal trainer when not at the clinic! She has going skydiving, but still thinks the most exciting thing she has ever done was when she moved across the country.